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Imagine walking around your neighborhood on a warm, sunny afternoon. Without warning, a firecracker shoots off. Logically you know it\u2019s just a harmless bang, but it sounds enough like gunfire that you involuntarily duck for cover. If you have a history of trauma, you might experience vivid flashbacks of a time under duress, seeing every detail and feeling time slow like you\u2019re living two timelines at once. Worst of all, you feel unable to quell the anxiety building up.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Almost everyone has had an unpleasant experience that was difficult to let go of and grow past, but for those living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD<\/a>, this immersive experience is a daily struggle. These individuals must repeatedly relive their traumatic event(s), never knowing what benign interactions may suddenly trigger an intrusive memory or flashback, causing full-on panic.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n PTSD is a <\/span>mental health condition<\/span><\/a> that can affect anyone who has survived a traumatic or life-threatening experience.<\/span> PTSD often afflicts individuals who have been involved in military combat, survived a terrorist attack, experienced a severe accident or natural disaster, or been the victim of assault, though other traumatic events can also lead to PTSD. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Individuals living with PTSD typically exhibit recurring symptoms from each of the following categories for at least one month:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Currently, there’s no known cure for PTSD, but therapy and other treatments can help manage symptoms, making it easier to cope with daily life. <\/span>Experts recommend<\/span><\/a> trauma-centered psychotherapy, prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In addition, some emerging research suggests that many individuals with PTSD use cannabis to manage their anxiety<\/a>\u00a0during the day and to sleep more easily at night.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n While qualifying symptoms for medical cannabis treatments vary from state to state, PTSD is a common symptom across <\/span>many states that have approved<\/span><\/a>\u00a0medical cannabis use.<\/span> As of 2018, the following states have recognized PTSD as a qualifying condition for MMJ treatments:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There’s been substantial research on cannabis and PTSD. So far, though, that research has mostly involved observational studies or correlative reports. Much of the existing research to date hasn’t included large-scale, long-term, randomized control studies measuring the cannabis’ efficacy as a <\/span>PTSD treatment option<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even though there\u2019s a lack of large-scale clinical studies, <\/span>researchers are investigating<\/span><\/a> whether cannabis can help PTSD sufferers improve their sleep quality, reduce nightmares, and manage hyperarousal\/anxiety symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Studies<\/span><\/a> have also sought to determine whether cannabis may help control neurotransmitter functions, alter the memory process, and improve overall mood.<\/span> Further research (including clinical, reproducible results) is necessary to better understand the role cannabis may play in treating the symptoms of PTSD.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some studies suggest that cannabis use may be problematic among people with PTSD. <\/span>Researchers have expressed concerns<\/span><\/a> about possible dependence and withdrawal symptoms in some patients.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In addition to these concerns, it\u2019s worth remembering that researchers <\/strong><\/span>don\u2019t fully understand<\/a><\/strong> the relationship between cannabis and anxiety<\/strong>.<\/span> Because PTSD often causes anxiety and hyperarousal of panic in many, anyone considering using medicinal cannabis should proceed with caution. If you have PTSD and are prone to anxious reactions, talk to your primary physician about these and other potential risks associated with using cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Recreational cannabis customers often choose strains or edibles with the highest THC content. However, high doses of THC may not always be best for someone with serious medical needs, including patients with PTSD. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Instead of a high-THC product, ask your budtender about a high-CBD option. Researchers are investigating whether CBD may offer <\/span>potential health benefits<\/span><\/a> that include managing the symptoms of generalized anxiety,<\/span> which could have implications for patients living with PTSD. Some cannabis strains with high CBD include Charlotte\u2019s Web, ACDC and Ringo\u2019s Gift. There are also many high-CBD\/low-THC concentrates, edibles, tinctures, and sublingual sprays. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Also check which terpenes,\u00a0the aromatic hydrocarbons that give cannabis its unique smell and taste, are in your flower or concentrates. Terpenes may offer their own additional therapeutic benefits, which i<\/span>s nothing new.\u00a0<\/span>Multiple studies indicate<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that linalool, found in lavender and numerous cannabis strains, may offer anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects in some.<\/span> However, aromatherapy isn’t recognized as a legitimate treatment option and more research is needed.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Try keeping a written record of which strains\/concentrates\/tinctures you\u2019ve tried, how you were feeling before and after, and any overall impressions you had. This will help identify which strains and products work best for you.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Start by talking to your doctor about your needs as a PTSD patient. He or she may advise you to avoid cannabis altogether or may have some recommendations, like sticking with CBD<\/a>. No one besides your doctor can determine whether cannabis can help or worsen your symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhat you'll learn in this article:<\/h2>\n
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What Is PTSD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Which States Allow Cannabis Treatment for PTSD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Current Research About Cannabis and PTSD<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How Some Patients Use Cannabis for PTSD<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Potential Side Effects of Using Cannabis for PTSD<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Dose and Ratio Matter<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How Do I Find the Best Cannabis for My Needs?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Where to Go for Help<\/strong><\/h2>\n